New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-07-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
w ashington, July 8th. Is

treasury ana more or less III al, Dut
there were few additions to the force
in some of the Departments.
I wish to refer to an individual case,
because it not only concerns a histori-
cal character that will interest all true
Republicans, but unmasks the hypO-
crisy of the sham reformer Villas. Miss
Van Lew, a lady who was loyal-liYing
in Richmond throughout the rebellion
and concealing and feeding many I'm.
ion soldiers who had escaped from the
horrors Of Libby prison, and also con-
veying invaluable information to Gen.
Grant during the last year of war and
when that immortal hero became Presi-
dent he gave Miss Van Lew charge Of
the Richmond post Office, which she
surrendered for a clerkship in the Post
Office Department, paying $1,000, from
which Villas, the dude and fraud of the
Cabinet, has degraded her to q 1920
position to make room for lady not so
we'll known.
Secretary Lamar is greatly disturbed
over the disclosure that Levi Bacon, the
lately deceased financial clerk of the
Patent Office, who was universally pop
ular and respected, is defaulter for
about $32, 900. Some of the clerks are
more distressed than Secretary, as their
due bills for salaries illegally advanced
were found among Bacon's papers and
as far as it can be done, these obliga-
lions will be deducted from their salar-
les. One clerk was advanced $500,
which relative refunded to protect
him.
At the Pension Office it is stated that
112, $40 pension certificates were issued
during the fiscal year of which number
So, 194 were original cases; 8,455 were
Mexican war claims under the act of
Jan. 29th, 1887. In 1864 with the
proofs Of disability in nearly all cases
particularly on hand, there were 50,127
original allowances made, this was the
largest number of certificates ever is
sued up to last year, when the record
of any previous year was largely ex-
ceeded.
Notwithstanding the hot weather
which prevails here there are more Sena-
tors and Representatives in the city than
were ever known before in this
month, any previous year except
when Congress was sitting. The
only reason that can be assigned
for it is that the fiscal year Of the Gov.
eminent closed on the last day Of June
and the appropriations were available
after July first. It is not generally
known outside of the Capital that there
are more changes in the Federal Offices
on the last of June to take effect the
first of July than at any other time in
the year. It is like settling up old ac-
counts and starting with a new force.
Congress at IFS last session provided for
a large increase in the force of the sew
eral Departments, and also created
many new Federal Offices throughout
the whole country, and it is after these
new offices more especially than for re-
tenlion OF favorites in positions alrea-
dy secured that these Statesmen are
here. tits pretty warm weather to lis
ten attentively to appeals for Office but
still the President stands the interviews
ing and importuning with equanimity
of mind, good nature and proverbial
stolidity. After the fatigue Of the day
he drives out to Oak View and regales
himself in the cool Of the evening with
pleasant social chat with members of
his family and guests who studiously
avoid discussing any OF the welghty
care of State.
The old Mexican veterans are happy
over the dispatch with which their
claims are settled. The Pension Office
has recognized the necessity of prompt
action in these cases owing to the adj
vanced age of most of the claimants
and so has put a big force upon them.
If the papers are properly prepared
and the claim substantiated when filed
the claimant usually can obtain q final
settlement in from to months. As
rule in other cases it is a year or more
before they are reached for action. and
then comes delay after delay caused by
absurd calls for additional evidence.
AS q rule the Office requires a claimant
to prove his case many times over by
calling for such evidence that no court
would give any weight to. This seri-
Gus delay 10 the interests of the claim
ant is not wilful on the part Of the Gov
eminent but due to the total Ignorance
of the law of evidence By the large ma
iority Of the clerks whose business it il
to pass upon the suficiency Of the
proofs submitted. There is perhaps nc
bureau under the Government where
such a large proportion of its force
should be thoroughly familiar with the
principles of the law of evidence as thai
OF the Pension Office, and yet it is diff
cult to conceive Of a less informed body
Of men on that subject than the clerks
in that office. Ii the soldier elemen
would demand more efficiency in that
branch Of the Government it would gel
it.
Brace Up
You are feeling depressed. your mp
petite is poor, You are bothered witt
Headache. you are fdgetty. nervous
and generally out Of sorts, and want i
brace up. Brace up. but not wit
stimulants, spring medicines. or bi1ters
which have for their basis yer,
cheap, bad whisky, and which slim
ul..te you for an hour. and then ieay